Turkcell, the biggest mobile-phone operator in Turkey, has claimed that its M2M services could save the Turkish economy as much as 1 billion Turkish lira ($553 million) in 2012.

The announcement follows a new ruling on taxation. Previously, customers had to pay a special communications tax of TRY37 on new subscriptions on SIM cards, but recent legislative changes have lifted that tax.

Turkcell (Istanbul, Turkey) expects the elimination of the tax to spur interest in M2M services, which, it says, can help to lower fuel and inventory costs, energy loss and theft, as well as prevent food spoilage and boost operational efficiency.

The company reckons savings from M2M solutions will rise to TRY1 billion, from TRY318 million in 2011, as a result of increased usage.

“The lightening of the customers’ taxation burden regarding this technology, which is used very widely, effectively turning machines into a regular source of tax, will ensure increased revenues for the Treasury,” says Selen Kocabas, Turkcell’s chief corporate business officer. “Enlarging the market means an increase in employment for those producing and marketing remote devices, as well as those developing applications for them. In line with the removal of the obstacles in this market we expect increasing interest in smart energy, smart industry, smart vehicles, smart buildings and smart health solutions.”